Data Files for DBM for Army Builder 3.0

[jbohn]

Hallo,

has anybody began to work on DBM-Lists for Army Builder 3.0? Is there already a definition-file online? Or has anybody specified how to write files for DBM?

Thanks for help,

JB

[deathlynx]

DBM? Not sure what it is...

[jbohn]

Sorry, I thought "De Bellis Multitudinis" of the Wargames Research Group abbreviatet as DBM most of the data file authors would know.

Cheers,

JB

[thebutcher]

So that's what that means.
I've seen it before on forums, but never knew what it was.
Don't have a clue if anyone is doing the files though, sorry.

Butcher

[rob]

The data files for DBM should be completely rewritten for AB3. The reason
for this is that the way all the time periods were handled under AB2 was
really cumbersome and inflexible. AB3 makes handling that stuff REALLY nice
via the use of rulesets. Managing things in the data files is much nicer
now, and things are also much better for the end-user.

The only problem is that I'm not aware of anyone who has taken on the DBM
files yet for AB3. It's possible there's someone out there, but, if so,
they haven't told me about it.

Setting up the new definition file should NOT be very complex for DBM. And
the AB3 Authoring Kit includes a graphical tool for editing ALL the various
files (including the definition file), unlike for AB2. The Authoring Kit
has not been officially released yet, but it is available for anyone who
wants it. The tools are complete, but the documentation still needs a lot
of work, which is the reason for the delay. The docs are reasonable, but
lacking lots of useful examples. The docs are the same docs used by the
data file authors that participated in our Beta, so it's a question of
whether you want the docs "finished" or not before you dive into them. If
you don't mind the docs being Beta still, you can grab the Kit at the URL
below:
http://www.armybuilder.com/download/abkit30b.exe

If you decide to try your hand with the DBM files, feel free to post
questions about how best to handle certain aspects of the game system here.
All of the "hacks" that were needed in AB2 should now be a thing of the
past, so it should be pretty easy to setup DBM files and get armies added.
Yes, even the really convoluted ones like Medieval Germans, since you can
now easily mix and match rulesets. :-)

Hope this helps,
Rob

At 06:29 PM 5/23/2005 -0400, you wrote:
>Hallo,
>
>has anybody began to work on DBM-Lists for Army Builder 3.0? Is there
>already a definition-file online? Or has anybody specified how to write
>files for DBM?
>
>Thanks for help,
>
>JB


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Bowes (rob@wolflair.com) (408) 927-9880
Lone Wolf Development www.wolflair.com